OFFICIAL: Toni Kroos announces shock Real Madrid exit and retirement

Tom Weber

Updated: 21 May 2024 13:18 CDT
4 min read

Toni Kroos, Real Madrid, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Toni Kroos has surprisingly announced his decision to retire after Euro 2024.

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The Real Madrid superstar is out of contract in the summer and his future had been in doubt for some time. However, after a very strong end to the campaign that saw Kroos get back into Germany's squad for the first time since Euro 2021, it was expected that the 34-year-old would extend his deal by another year.

The midfielder is coming off a season that saw him feature 46 times for Real Madrid despite his advanced age. Kroos notched one goal and nine assists across all competitions and could yet boost that tally against Real Betis and when Los Blancos face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley.

Kroos has also been named in Julian Nagelsmann's squad for Euro 2024 and is set to star for his country. Now, however, the German has revealed that he will retire after the tournament on home soil.

Kroos announces retirement

Taking to social media on Tuesday with a montage of pictures of his time at Real Madrid, the 34-year-old wrote: "July 17th, 2014 - the day of my presentation at Real Madrid, the day that changed my life. My life as a footballer - but especially as a person. It was the start of a new chapter at the biggest club in the world."

"After 10 years, at the end of the season this chapter comes to an end. I will never forget that insolent successful time! I would particularly like to thank everyone that welcomed me with an open heart and trusted me. But especially I would like to thank you, dear Madridistas, for your affection and your love from the first day until the last one."

"At the same time this decision means that my career as an active footballer will end this summer after the Euro championship. As I have always said: Real Madrid is and will be my last club. I am happy and proud, that in my mind I found the right timing for my decision and that I could choose it by my own."

"My ambition was always to finish my career at the peak of my performance level. From now on there is only one leading thought: a por la 15!!! HALA MADRID Y NADA MAS!"

Prior to his time at Real Madrid, Kroos played for Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. The German has made north of 300 appearances for Los Blancos and more than a century of appearances for his country. To date, Kroos has won a whopping 31 trophies.